Robert R. Vinovich, 75, WWII Veteran

He was born January 5, 1926 in Lorain and had been a life-long resident of the city. He was a 1944 graduate of Lorain High School.

He was a World War II U. S. Army veteran serving as a Corporal with the 50th Infantry Battalion of the Sixth Armored Division and saw service in the Rhineland and Central Europe. He was the recipient of the American Theater Ribbon, the European-African-Middle-Eastern Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the Army Occupation medal of Germany, the Good Conduct medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

He was the co-owner of the Kocak Sohio Service Center formerly located at the corner of East 30th and Pearl Avenue. He later served for 6 years as a deputy with the Lorain County Sheriff's Department under the administration of Carl Finnegan. He was also employed in the Plant Security Division of Form Motor company's Lorain Assembly Plant; he retired from that post in 1988 following 30 years of service with the company.

A parishioner of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, his hobbies included bowling, hunting, and fishing. He is survived by his wife of 52 years; Maryann (nee Kocak), daughters: Christine Worthington of Baytown Texas, Roberta "Bobbie" Beyerlein and Susan Thibaudeau both of Saginaw, Michigan and 7 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parent: John B. and Agnes (nee Onofry) and by a sister Bernadine Yockey.

Friends may call Sunday, October 7, 2001 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. in the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway, Lorain. Funeral services will be Monday, October 8, 2001 beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the funeral chapel and will be followed by his funeral mass at 10:00 a.m. in St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 2702 Elyria Avenue, Lorain. The Rev. Kevin C. Shemuga, pastor of the church will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain where Louis Paul Proy Chapter #20 of the Disabled American Veterans will conduct full military honors.

The family suggests memorials in his memory to the American Diabetes Association, 3601 South Green Road, Suite 100, Cleveland, OH 44122.